Thursday, September 10, 2020

Korn Ferry: Scary Times for the Stock Market

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Coastal residents from Florida to New York can start to rest a little bit easier from fears of being battered by tropical storms. But for investors, that’s just when things can tend to get a bit rougher in the stock market.

Stocks have historically seen tumultuous times during October, and that’s something no savvy investor should ignore. “October is a scary month,” says Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at the financial research company CFRA. Read more here

Forbes: Stocks Still In Bull Market, Pullback Presents Buying Opportunity, Analyst Says

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

“[W]e think this decline will represent an opportunity to buy rather than a reason to bail,” states a recent report from Sam Stovall, chief market strategist at New York-based financial research firm CFRA. Read more here.

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

AIER: The Fed’s Policy Shift to Let Inflation Rip Higher Is Deeply Flawed

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

At the end of last month, Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell announced a shift in one of its decades-long policy goals. It’s a move that should worry investors and workers alike. Here’s what happened and why it’s a problem: 

At the Fed’s annual Jackson Hole symposium, Powell said that instead of targeting an annualized inflation rate of 2%, the institution would allow the rise in the cost of living to go above that rate for long periods. The idea, Powell explained, was to take account of long periods when inflation had remained stubbornly below its target.

Read more here.

WSJ: Which Stock-Market Sectors Should You Invest In?

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Stock-market sectors generally don’t move in strict synchronization. Some will lead as others lag behind, and a key question for investors is which sector is poised to move up fastest next. Read more here.

WSJ: What is Contango And Backwardation?

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Investors in commodities funds that hold futures contracts will hear or read the words contango and backwardation. The terms are apt to confuse even those with some Wall Street experience, but understanding them is vital for investors in commodities. Read more here.

Friday, September 4, 2020

Forbes: No One Should Be Short On Gold, Says Precious Metals Firm CPM

 By SIMON CONSTABLE 

Investors would be ill-advised to make financial bets that the price of gold will fall, according to a recent video report from commodities consulting firm CPM Group.

The video, hosted by Jeff Christian, founder, and managing partner of the company, notes that anyone with an outlook longer than a couple of weeks should be long. In other words, investors should bet on higher prices for the yellow metal. Read more here.

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Korn Ferry: Is Germany Getting It Right?

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

When Germany’s economy appeared to be on a pandemic-pushed brink earlier this year, its government gave companies cash to keep employees on the payroll. Now, with the virus looking less threatening, some thought the helping hand might be removed. That wasn’t quite what happened. Read more here.